Sunday, November 14
Piscataway, N.J.
1 p.m.
Bucknell University
11-8-3, 5-2-2
0
at
2
Rutgers (NCAA First Round)
18-3-0, 10-0-0
1
2
F
Bucknell
0
0
0
Rutgers
1
1
2
Women’s Soccer Falls at Rutgers, 2-0, in First Round of NCAA Tournament
11/14/2021 3:31:00 PM | Women's Soccer
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Fifth-ranked and top-seeded Rutgers scored once in each half to defeat a hard-working Bucknell side 2-0 Sunday in the first round of the NCAA Women's Soccer Tournament. The Bison had many bright moments in the match, but the Patriot League champions saw their season come to an end with an 11-8-3 record after a fifth NCAA appearance.
Frankie Tagliaferri and Riley Tiernan accounted for the Rutgers goals, sending the Scarlet Knights on to the second round against Saint Louis. Rutgers improved to 18-3 on the season, a mark that includes a perfect 10-0 record in Big Ten regular-season play.
Sophomore goalkeeper Jenna Hall played a starring role for Bucknell, finishing with a career-high 15 saves against a Rutgers attack that is loaded with All-Americans. She stopped 11 shots in the second half alone, including a penalty kick save on Tiernan in the 88th minute and a dazzling kick save on Tagliaferri in a 1v1 moment a few minutes earlier.
Hall made a ten-bell save 12 minutes into the match when she denied three-time All-American Amirah Ali from point-blank range. Hall was busy, but the defense held strong in front of her until just before the half-hour mark when the Scarlet Knights cashed in on a scramble in the box.
Hall made a sharp-angle save on Allison Lowrey, then she went flying through the air to deny Tagiaferri. The All-America transfer from Penn State got another shot away that was cleared off the goal line by Claire Mensi, but the rebound came right back to Tagliaferri, who didn't miss this time as Hall tried to scramble back. Tagliaferri, an All-American and fifth-year transfer from Penn State, registered her 13th goal of the season.
Rutgers doubled its lead in the 61st minute when Tiernan, the Big Ten Freshman of the Year, took the ball from the left flank across the 18 to the top of the D and pulled a low shot back inside the left post.
Bucknell forced Meagan McClelland into six saves, five coming in the first half. The brightest attacking moment came in the 77th minute, when Rylee Donaldson played a beautiful back-heel pass into the path of Teresa Deda, who ripped a shot squarely onto the crossbar. Ashley Groeber had two attempts at the rebound but couldn't get it to go.
The Bison came into the match riding four straight shutouts, the last three coming in the Patriot League Tournament. Their scoreless streak ended at 397 minutes on Rutgers' first-half goal, but this was Bucknell's best defensive showing in five all-time NCAA appearances. The Bison conceded three goals against Penn State in 2001 and West Virginia in 2017.
Bucknell will bid adieu to six outstanding seniors: captains Holly Burns and Claire Mensi along with Raegan Dunwoodie, Emilene Parham, Molly Mishler and Alana Carlucci.
The Bison were picked ninth in the Patriot League preseason poll, but went 5-2-2 in league play before sweeping Lehigh, Navy and Boston University to win the Patriot League Tournament as a No. 4 seed. Nine regular starters from this year's squad will return next season.
Frankie Tagliaferri and Riley Tiernan accounted for the Rutgers goals, sending the Scarlet Knights on to the second round against Saint Louis. Rutgers improved to 18-3 on the season, a mark that includes a perfect 10-0 record in Big Ten regular-season play.
Some parting thoughts from Coach Kelly Cook after today's game. #rayBucknell pic.twitter.com/CiQsp2YzK1
— Bucknell WSoccer | PATRIOT LEAGUE CHAMPS! (@Bucknell_WSOC) November 14, 2021
Sophomore goalkeeper Jenna Hall played a starring role for Bucknell, finishing with a career-high 15 saves against a Rutgers attack that is loaded with All-Americans. She stopped 11 shots in the second half alone, including a penalty kick save on Tiernan in the 88th minute and a dazzling kick save on Tagliaferri in a 1v1 moment a few minutes earlier.
Hall made a ten-bell save 12 minutes into the match when she denied three-time All-American Amirah Ali from point-blank range. Hall was busy, but the defense held strong in front of her until just before the half-hour mark when the Scarlet Knights cashed in on a scramble in the box.
Hall made a sharp-angle save on Allison Lowrey, then she went flying through the air to deny Tagiaferri. The All-America transfer from Penn State got another shot away that was cleared off the goal line by Claire Mensi, but the rebound came right back to Tagliaferri, who didn't miss this time as Hall tried to scramble back. Tagliaferri, an All-American and fifth-year transfer from Penn State, registered her 13th goal of the season.
Rutgers doubled its lead in the 61st minute when Tiernan, the Big Ten Freshman of the Year, took the ball from the left flank across the 18 to the top of the D and pulled a low shot back inside the left post.
Bucknell forced Meagan McClelland into six saves, five coming in the first half. The brightest attacking moment came in the 77th minute, when Rylee Donaldson played a beautiful back-heel pass into the path of Teresa Deda, who ripped a shot squarely onto the crossbar. Ashley Groeber had two attempts at the rebound but couldn't get it to go.
The Bison came into the match riding four straight shutouts, the last three coming in the Patriot League Tournament. Their scoreless streak ended at 397 minutes on Rutgers' first-half goal, but this was Bucknell's best defensive showing in five all-time NCAA appearances. The Bison conceded three goals against Penn State in 2001 and West Virginia in 2017.
Could not be more proud of this group. An amazing senior class led us here, and the future is so bright. #rayBucknell #Champions pic.twitter.com/whGG6Ksrlf
— Bucknell WSoccer | PATRIOT LEAGUE CHAMPS! (@Bucknell_WSOC) November 14, 2021
Bucknell will bid adieu to six outstanding seniors: captains Holly Burns and Claire Mensi along with Raegan Dunwoodie, Emilene Parham, Molly Mishler and Alana Carlucci.
The Bison were picked ninth in the Patriot League preseason poll, but went 5-2-2 in league play before sweeping Lehigh, Navy and Boston University to win the Patriot League Tournament as a No. 4 seed. Nine regular starters from this year's squad will return next season.
Team Stats
BU
RU
Goals
0
2
Shots
10
32
Shots on Goal
6
17
Saves
15
6
Corners
1
7
Fouls
6
4
Scoring Plays
Frankie Tagliaferri (13)
GOAL by RU Tagliaferri, Frankie.
29:51
Riley Tiernan (5)
GOAL by RU Tiernan, Riley.
60:58
Game Leaders
Shots
5
SOG
3
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
2
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
D
/ Women's Soccer
D
/ Women's SoccerM
/ Women's SoccerF
/ Women's Soccer
GK
/ Women's SoccerM
/ Women's Soccer
GK
/ Women's Soccer
D
/ Women's Soccer
D
/ Women's Soccer
F
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